Skip-the-line Exclusive Private Tour of Vatican Museum Sistine Chapel & St Peter

Visit the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter’s Basilica in the company of a local, expert guide on this great 3-hour private tour.  With skip-the-line access you miss the queues and have more time to see the impressive artworks like Raphael’s famous masterpieces, the Parnassus and The School of Athens, the marvelous frescoes by Michelangelo, Botticelli and other Renaissance painters.

As this is a private tour you go at your own pace and gain access to some of the smaller rooms not available to the large groups. 

You meet your guide for either a 9.00 am or 2.00 pm start and head directly for the Belvedere Courtyard.  Then it is on to the largest collection of ancient Roman and Greek statues in the Pio-Clementino Museums.

As you meander through the collections your guide will share the history and many anecdotes about the wonderful treasures to be seen.  Hear about the tapestries in the Gallery of Tapestries and the largest collection of Renaissance Maps in the world housed in the Gallery of Maps.  See the largest canvas in the Vatican in the Sobiesky Room and learn about the frescoes in the Immaculate Conception Rooms.

You will also see Raphael’s famous masterpieces, the Parnassus and The School of Athens.  These are displaced in the rooms painted for Pope Julius II by the young Raphael and are considered some of his very best works.

Before you enter the Sistine Chapel (no talking is allowed inside) your guide will tell you about the marvelous frescoes by Michelangelo, Botticelli and other Renaissance painter of the day.  The chapel is also where the conclave is held to elect a new Pope.  Hear all about this as well as many other interest facts and anecdotes.

Another of Michelangelo’s famous works, his Pieta, is displayed in the next port of call, the magnificent Saint Peter’s Basilica.  Together with Bernini’s Baldacchino and a collection of statues to Saints and Popes this church holds a treasure trove of wonderful artwork.

Finally it is in to Saint Peter’s Square to see the Pope’s Palace and catch a glimpse of the Vatican’s Swiss Guard.  A perfect end to a wonderful 3-hour tour!

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements
• READ CAREFULLY: Because of the growing popularity of the current pope Francis and his intense activity in organising mass events in the Vatican some areas might get closed last minute without previous notice. This has already happened this year and can happen again during you Vatican tour: the Sistine chapel and/or the Basilica of Saint Peter might not be accessible. In case of such events our tour guide will provide you with a valuable alternative focusing the tour inside the Vatican museums.

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• Local guide
• Private tour
• Professional art historian guide
• Guaranteed to skip the long lines

• Hotel pick up and drop off

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• This Tour is Provided by Rome City Tours.
• Tour Timezone & Starts at Europe/Rome.
• Mobile or paper ticket accepted.
• All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
• This Tour is Rated 5 Stars based on 7 valid reviews on VIATOR.
• Minimum 1 Travelers is required to book.
• Maximum 15 Travelers is accepted for booking.